UPDATE: DeAngelo & Benson tell Hamilton mayor to resign' now

Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo won't acknowledge the media after leaving federal court in Trenton on Thursday. He was charged with taking $12,400 in bribes to steer insurance contracts to the school district. (Trentonian Photo/JACKIE SCHEAR)

TRENTON — Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo was charged with attempted extortion and appeared in federal court today after surrendering to FBI agents.

Bencivengo appeared in court in a suit with his legs shackled and made no statement during a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas Arpert in federal court late Thursday morning.

Jerome Ballarotto, Bencivengo’s attorney, said after the hearing: “He is not resigning as mayor. … He’s going to go back to work, if not today, then soon.”

He said the mayor is “not guilty of this charge.”

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Bencivengo will be released on $100,000 unsecured bail.

Bencivengo is facing allegations he took $12,400 in bribes in order to steer a health insurance brokerage contract with the township’s school district, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

“Today, the sitting Mayor of Hamilton Township is charged with promising to use his influence over the Hamilton Board of Education in exchange for bribes,” said U.S. Attorney Fishman. “This is the most recent example of a public official charged by this Office with extortion or bribery in connection with brokering insurance contracts for public schools. These lucrative service contracts should not be opportunities for public servants to betray their constituents by enriching themselves or their colleagues.”

“This investigation revealed the alleged use of bribes in exchange for official influence, which casts a negative connotation on our political system during a time when trust in public officials is essential,” said FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Velazquez. “It is imperative to combat public corruption at all levels of government, therefore, situations of extortion under the color of official right will continue to be vigorously addressed and investigated.”

According to the complaint, Bencivengo took the money from a cooperating witness who worked for the insurance company. The money was given to Bencivengo in exchange for his streering health insurance contracts for the Hamilton School District to the insurance company.

Bencivengo is said to have asked the witness for money to pay his taxes and living expenses and he would, in turn, talk to a member of the school board in order to renew the insurance contract without putting it out to bid.

According to the complaint, Bencivengo got the money in multiple payments, including a check for $5,000 given to someone on the mayor’s behalf. The mayor told the witness that if anyone asked about the check, they should say they gave the money to the intermediary in order to buy themselves a bedroom set.

Bencivengo faces 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Hamilton Council Vice-President Kelly Yaede, in concert with Councilman Dennis Pone, told The Trentonian in the afternoon that Bencivengo deserves his day in court, “However, I believe that in order for this not to be a distraction to the Hamilton Township government, it’s in the best interest of the township if the mayor took a leave of absence.”

Council member David Kenny said “It’s terrible. I’m surprised by the allegation but I am willing to let the justice system play itself out, to find out exactly what happened. In the past few days there have been a lot of rumors.”

New Jersey Sen. Wayne DeAngelo and Assemblyman Dan Benson, both of Hamilton, joined the chorus that Sen. Linda Greenstein set earlier by calling on Bencivengo to resign ASAP.

“The charges filed today against Mayor Bencivengo are appalling,” said the press release sent by DeAngelo and Benson at 4:45 p.m. “No elected official or public leader should ever use their position for their own personal gain. Period.At this juncture, the priority must be ensuring that the residents of Hamilton Townshipare protected. The only way for the cloud of scrutiny and ambiguity to be lifted is by Mayor Bencivengo immediately resigning from office while he handles his legal matters.It is stunning to hear reports that the Mayor plans to returnto work in our municipalityshortly, if not today. By remaining in the mayor’s office, he will be a distraction from the town’sbusiness and the issues affecting the daily lives of the residents of Hamilton Township.As longtime Hamilton Township residents ourselves, we pledge to fight to ensure that stability, transparency and openness in our local government returns. Our residents deserve tobegin the healing process from these charges that have rocked our community for a week.”

Vinny Capodanno, a former Hamilton Twp. councilman, said” We need a political cleansing in Hamilton Township. Since the Baron, it’s been all the same people connected to all the same stuff. It’s the same old players. I hate to see this happen to John......This is not good.”

Glen Gilmore, who was Hamilton mayor for eight years before Bencivengo beat him in 2007, tweeted this to @Trentonian: “It’s a sad day for Hamilton.”

Bencivengo during his first term bashed Gilmore time and again for sinking the township into a $16 million budget hole.

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack was reached by phone in Atlantic City, where he is attending the New Jersey Conference of Mayors Spring Conference 2012, but said he had “no comment” about Bencivengo’s charges.

“This is a very difficult situation.” “Everyone who seeks political positions should think it all out because there are a lot of temptations. There are temptations all the time. If you’re that person who finds himself jammed up. Well, it’s a bad position to be in. to be in a position of power and be in need.

“This is not good. It creates a lot of hurt. It’s a disappointing hurt or an aggravating hurt. People are getting aggravated by our entire political system.”

Rafferty wished Bencivengo the best and said he would reserve comments until after this issue is resolved: “It’s going to be a tough year for Hamilton Twp. But we’re going to have to look down that road and go down it.”